Chris, That was an awesome post. I too find it grievous to have motives impugned over this belief. In my own life, and in various situations, I have found that Christ offers comfort through many means, although He is the source of the comfort. I think that having a hope of the resurrection that is tied to the hope of others who Christ died for is much more glorious than if I was to have hope for myself only. Why? Because God designed it that way. As believers we are to comfort one another by these words. I'm thankful to be able to share the good news of Jesus--who shows grace towards their infants--with grieving parents. Still "shallowly" comforted by His promises, Nancy >From: Chris Arnzen <carnzen@...> >Reply-To: soundofgrace@... >To: soundofgrace@... >Subject: Re: [soundofgrace] Infant Salvation >Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2003 01:31:38 -0500 > > > > > It's shallow comfort for a parent to rest in believing he'll see his >child > > again. (whether it's true or not) > > His comfort must be totally in Christ, and the trial of losing a child >is >an > > exercise in stretching his faith to that end. > > >[Chris] Okay, folks, I am ending my part in the discussion here. I am >simply >tired of seeing the motives for my beliefs impugned. I am amazed that many >of my brethren are insinuating that I, and brethren such as myself >(including Spurgeon) who believe we can extend biblical comfort to those >Christian parents mourning the loss of an infant by reminding them of the >promises given by the inspired Apostle Paul in 1 Thes.4:13-18, are merely >offering shallow comfort, even though we are biblically convinced in infant >salvation (even if you disagree with our conclusions). Most of you making >these passionate protests, with few exceptions, are agnostics over the >issue >any way, which means in the long run, when all is said and done, WE MIGHT >BE >*RIGHT*!!! I cannot help but believe that much of this sentiment stems from >an arrogant form of Hyper-Calvinistic piety, that insists that if anyone >seeks comfort in ANYTHING else, other than Christ being in Sovereign >control >over all events, he or she is a shallow Christian. If this was true, then >Paul would never have offered his words of comfort even to those mourning >the loss of adult Christian loved ones in 1 Thes.4:13-18. Otherwise, he >would have merely said, "Do not concern yourself, brothers, about those who >have fallen asleep, because knowing they are at peace with the Savior for >all eternity is not where you are to receive comfort. That's God's >business, >so just mind your own business. Just trust in the fact that God will do >what >is right in regard to their eternal destiny. If you concern yourself about >anything less than the Person of Christ you are being shallow and >man-centered." But our tender and compassionate God did not say that in His >Word. Obviously the Person of Christ must be our chief focus in EVERY area >of thought, and the main source of our comfort in any trial, but *HE* >offered additional (not superior or even equal) comfort. *HE* is the one >who >inspired Paul to remind us about departed Christian loved ones rising again >and returning with Him as a powerful source of comfort. It is one thing to >disagree with my conclusions that infants who die will not be tormented in >hell. It is entirely another thing to insinuate that my belief in offering >comfort to mourners who grieve the loss of an infant with SCRIPTURAL >promises is shallow. As I have repeated many times, I am not merely driven >by mushy-gushy Hallmark Card sentiment to draw my conclusions. I just have >not as of yet been biblically convinced that infants will be tormented in >hell for the very same reasons I have not as of yet been biblically >convinced that they are proper candidates for baptism. Just as the >Scriptures teach who the proper candidates for baptism are, and why, when >and how they are to be baptized, they also teach who those who are >tormented >in hell are, and why they are being tormented (for their deeds). I see no >infants mentioned in either category. > > > >-- >Read the Sound of Grace pages at >http://www.soundofgrace.com > >To unsubscribe, send ANY message to ><soundofgrace-unsubscribe@...> > >To view our online archive go to our web page at >http://www.associate.com/groups/soundofgrace > > > _________________________________________________________________ Tired of slow downloads? Compare online deals from your local high-speed providers now. https://broadband.msn.com